Infant changing board

ABSTRACT

A convenient, foldable device on which an infant may be placed and held while changing the diaper or clothing of the infant which is relatively compact, small and easily carried when folded and which in the operative position provides a surface large enough to place the infant and means for securing the infant onto such surface during the changing and also includes at least one plastic or soil-proof integrally attached apron on which the soiled diaper may be placed during the process of changing and on which other accessories normally used in changing the diaper may be placed.

TJnited States Patent [191 Spies 1March 20, 1973 [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 105,496

521 U.S.Cl ..269/328 [51] lnt.Cl. ..A61g13/00 [58] FieldotSearch ..269/l31,285-286,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,308 2/1949 Pribil ..4/185 2,845,314 7/1958 Long ..269/328 2,973,889 3/1961 Phillips ..224/45 2,778,324 1/1957 Mattson ..269/302.l

Primary Examinen-Granvifle Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-Paul B. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A convenient, foldable device on which an infant may be placed and held while changing the diaper or clothing of the infant which is relatively compact, small and easily carried when folded and which in the operative position provides a surface large enough to place the infant and means for securing the infant onto such surface during the changing and also includes at least one plastic or soil-proof integrally attached apron on which the soiled diaper may be placed during the process of changing and on which other accessories normally used in changing the diaper may be placed.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures INFANT CHANGING BOARD SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device on which an infant may be comfortably placed for a diaper change particularly for use in hospitals, doctors offices or other locations outside of the home where a crib or other specially designed furniture is not readily available. The device is very useful in passenger vehicles, such as airplanes or automobiles, where space is limited. It is an object to provide a device that includes a waterproof and washable surface on which the infant may be placed during the process of changing the diapers. Further convenience is provided through the use of a belt or strap which may be easily secured around the infant during the changing process and which includes no metal components which might injure the child. The strap or belt must provide both safety and security and prevent the child from turning, wiggling, squirming or otherwise removing itself from the surface which protects the underlying device on which the child is placed.

The device may be readily folded into a compact carrying case that may be carried in addition to the infant. The strap for securing the child onto the board or surface during changing is adapted to secure the folded portions of the device into the compact arrangement.

There is also provided at least one flexible, waterproof, washable apron integrally secured to the longitudinal edge of the board which provides a working surface during change of the infants diapers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use;

BIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device ready for use;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device in folded position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, there is shown a device comprising two rigid boards, and 12, formed for example of plywood, plastic or other suitable material each of which provide a stiff, planar surface as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The two sections may be hinged together with a fabric or similar soft piece of material 14 permitting the sections 10 and 12 to be folded one upon the other during carrying. The upper surface of two padded sections may be lightly padded to provide a comfortable surface for the infant which in the unfolded position. Alternatively, the entire surface or surfaces of the two sections may be covered by a single layer of fabric or material which provides the padded surface as well as the soft hinge permitting the two sections to be folded.

One of the sections, such as section 12 in the exemplary embodiment, is provided with two, aligned, spaced longitudinally-extending slots 18 through which the ends of a strap 20 are disposed. The straps may be padded and provided at their terminal ends with nonmetallic mating securing means, such as a Velcro fastener whereby the strap ends may be secured about the infant as shown in FIG. 1 and interconnected through the Velcro, thereby maintaining the infant in a fixed position to facilitate the diaper change.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, it will be noted that at least one edge of the sections 10 and 12 may be attached 'to a flexible, washable, waterproof apron which may extend the length of the two sections 10 and 12 and has a width equal to or slightly less than the width of such sections. The apron may be unfolded into the position shown in FIG. 1 to provide a working surface on which, for example, the soiled diaper may be placed, thereby protecting the surface of the furniture on which the child is being changed. The talcum or baby oil which may be used during the diaper change may also be placed on such apron so that if it is inadvertently spilled, it will not damage the furniture or other device on which the child is placed during the change. During carrying, the apron may be folded across the two sections and being flexible, it will conform to the sections when folded and maintain the compactness of the device.

The convenience of the device during travelling is shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 where it may be readily seen that the two sections when folded are relatively small in size and relatively thin. Unlike most prior art devices, where the device is at least equal to the length of the infant, the present device is smaller and thus more convenient to carry. It will also be noted that the strap 20 which is used to secure the infant onto the sections 10 and 12 during use also provides the dual function of securing the two sections together during travelling or storage.

From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides a portable device which accomplishes all the objects and overcomes the disadvantages of prior art devices. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it will be readily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications to the device may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A portable, convenient, easily carried device for use in changing the clothing of an infant without damaging the surface of the object on which the infant is placed during the clothing change, comprising:

at least two rigid sections interconnected at adjoining edges with a non-metallic hinge;

one of said sections having a pair of aligned, spaced apart, longitudinally-extending slots;

a flexible elongated strap passing through said slots and having its terminal ends provided with nonmetallicsecuring means, said strap having a length sufficient to circumscribe the two sections when in the folded position to maintain the sections in such folded position during carrying or storage and may be positioned around the body of an infant to maintain the infant in fixed position; and

at least one apron attached to the longitudinal edge of the two sections when in the unfolded position, said apron being formed of a washable, flexible, waterproof material to provide a working surface for the implements used during changing of the infants clothing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the surfaces of said sections is covered by a sheet of flexible, waterproof material, the portion of the material bridging the two sections providing a flexible hinge. 

1. A portable, convenient, easily carried device for use in changing the clothing of an infant without damaging the surface of the object on which the infant is placed during the clothing change, comprising: at least two rigid sections interconnected at adjoining edges with a non-metallic hinge; one of said sections having a pair of aligned, spaced apart, longitudinally-extending slots; a flexible elongated strap passing through said slots and having its terminal ends provided with non-metallic securing means, said strap having a length sufficient to circumscribe the two sections when in the folded position to maintain the sections in such folded position during carrying or storage and may be positioned around the body of an infant to maintain the infant in fixed position; and at least one apron attached to the longitudinal edge of the two sections when in the unfolded position, said apron being formed of a washable, flexible, waterproof material to provide a working surface for the implements used during changing of the infant''s clothing.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the surfaces of said sections is covered by a sheet of flexible, waterproof material, the portion of the material bridging the two sections providing a flexible hinge. 